B C wooden lampholder adaptor

[richardandtracyParticipant @richardandtracy]

Our second house was originally wired up in 1936 with 6 light bulbs and a single 5A socket. The fitted lights did not include the bathroom, so there was a light in the bathroom, powered by a 50V bell flex extension from the rear bedroom light socket. The extension plug was similar, apparently home made, from Bakelite rod. The extension lead was fitted so the light bulb actually hung inside the cast iron bath in the bathroom.

Regards

Richard.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

That wooden Bayonet connector is not a one off. Showing my age, they were quite common in the 40s and 50s.

In one of my former jobs, I was called to an office (with the supply protected by a newly installed RCD) because there was no electrical power. Switching off everything, resetting the RCD and switching on items one by one, finally pointed to the electric kettle as the culprit. The green earth was connected to the Live pin of the plug! Someone had tripped over the lead, and the Superintendent had rewired the plug. He got a short lecture about tampering with things that he obviously knew nothing about, before I moved the red, black and green wires to where they should have been.

When you think of the things that were done in the 40s and 50s, (Electric irons fed from light sockets and the like, two pin plugs etc) HSE would now die of cardiac arrest, if not electric shock.

Pre war TVs were lethal, the EHT supply for the tube had its own separate power supply. Post war TVs used "fly back" EHT, and so could not provide enough current to be lethal. Stlll gave you a really nasty jolt, akin to a car spark plug! "Its the Volts that Jolts, but the mils that kills" as my electronic specialist colleague used to say.

Howard

[Billy BeanParticipant @billybean67480]

Thanks to all who replied and it was nice to see the interest this brought.

A lignum vitae item, commercially produced, seems to be the considered opinion, which I am happy with.

I had always thought it to be a commercial item but as never seen another had always wondered.

Tractor man asked about the ends – picture attached.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

There are two or three of them out in the box of plugs and sockets, along with some rather old brass plugs, also some Bakerlite two way light sockets, some with switches. Probably some other oddities from out dated electrical stuff. some of the modern plugs crimpted on, on gear is a bit more dicy, I'd rather fit my own plugs, and sometimes do.

Ian S C

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Doesn’t actually look like lignum vitae. As I remember wooden electrical fitting bits, they floated in water. What is the density of that item?

[Billy BeanParticipant @billybean67480]

Weight is 33 grammes

Volume is 33.9 cubic cms

Density is 0.97 g / cm3

Edited

NOTE TO IAN  – if you have some , a photo would be of interest for comparison purposes, please.

Nice to know that you have some which confirms the commercial item suggestion.

Edited By Billy Bean on 26/01/2018 12:30:40

[Philip RoweParticipant @philiprowe13116]

Posted by Billy Bean on 26/01/2018 12:25:17:

Nice to know that you have some which confirms the commercial item suggestion.

Definitely a commercial item, I recall several electrical items fitted with this type of wooden bayonet plug in the house when I was a child. One was on a valve radio, possibly an Ekco where the lower voltage required for the radio was achieved not with a transformer within the the set but with a resistive mains lead. This lead used to get remarkably warm and you dare not let it become coiled or tangled, that combined with a wooden plug definitely a recipe for disaster. Kids today just don't know what they're missing.

Phil

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Density is less than water, so not lignum vitae, which sinks in water (LV has a density of c.1230kg/m^3).

[Billy BeanParticipant @billybean67480]

So you know what it is not – ndiy

Perhaps you could kindly enlighten us all as to what it is ?

Thank you

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Billy,

I think a reasonable guess would be Boxwood: **LINK**

Boxwood

… The wood-database is an interesting thing to browse.

MichaelG.

[Phil WhitleyParticipant @philwhitley94135]

The Duraplug connectors will only connect one way round, the centre pin is offset!

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Rather pleased to see 'old fashioned' flex is still available.

[Jon GibbsParticipant @jongibbs59756]

Posted by not done it yet on 26/01/2018 14:53:55:

Density is less than water, so not lignum vitae, which sinks in water (LV has a density of c.1230kg/m^3).

The photo seems to have disappeared for me but I seem to recall that there was a clear difference between heartwood and sapwood which rules out box for me.

The thing to remember is that timber density is quite variable. The figures Michael links to are quoted as average for a given humidity – timber isn't a consistent substance like a metal. If the timber happens to a light sample and BB's density estimate is 5-10% low then it could still be LV.

It could of course be something else but the heart/sapwood difference shouldn't be underestimated.

Jon

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Jon Gibbs on 27/01/2018 00:25:47:

The photo seems to have disappeared for me but I seem to recall that there was a clear difference between heartwood and sapwood which rules out box for me.

.

Jon,

Please permit me to clarify:

I offered Boxwood as a "reasonable guess" based on its suitability for the job.

I would not have the temerity to claim that I could positively identify the wood from a couple general photographs.

MichaelG.

.

Edit: This page is also worth a look:

https://www.cookwoods.com/wood-by-species/boxwood-castello

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 27/01/2018 07:09:54

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Billy,

It may be worth contacting these people: **LINK**

http://www.jeani.co.uk/content/about-us.html

MichaelG.

[Billy BeanParticipant @billybean67480]

Jon and Michael

Thanks replies and will contact jeani as you suggest.

Still learning about albums – missing pictures my error so hopefully back with you now.

[Phil StevensonParticipant @philstevenson54758]

As a woodturner for many years, might I suggest it's not boxwood, Castello, British or European. Native boxwood is a butter colour as is the French stuff (think your old wooden chess set), although box is much favoured as easy to take a thread. If you can get your hands on a wee bit, put it on your lathe and cut a thread; many woodturners will hand chase their threads. I couldn't make a serious stab as to what it is without a touchy-feely but my guess would still be lignum vitae (which has come to cover many timbers, not just the original and now highly protected Caribbean stuff). There are dozens of exotics that look similar to this and would be ideal for fine machining. I do love seeing the many and varied applications wood has been put to – thanks for posting.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Posted by Billy Bean on 26/01/2018 15:02:47:

…Perhaps you could kindly enlighten us all as to what it is ?

Thank you

Certainly not balsa either. Easier to know what it isn’t.

I would expect it to be Common Treewood.

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Posted by HOWARDT on 25/01/2018 21:20:43:

I used to marvel at their large, to me, radio controlled planes with Kraft control gear.

Ah yes, those were the days. Receivers using soft valves and tuned reed relays for multi-channel operation.

Russell

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

​Not a lamp holder but one for our younger members a 5 Amp 3 pin plug, not no fuse or cord clamp 2 of the terminal screws have long been lost the last time I used one of these was March 1966

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Old 5 and 15 Amp plugs can be a good source of small pieces of brass! (That's my excuse for hoarding)

Also used 3 pin ones for the control box feeds for Photoflood lamps, so that they can only be soft started via the droppers, rather than straight off the mains.

Some of the plugs used a "knib" on the top to clamp the cable for strain relief, but not always effective.

As an Apprentice, in digs, once found that my landlord had wired a plug/socket connector with e pins on the live side! Thankfully, he didn't mind me swopping them over.

Howard

[Adrian GilesParticipant @adriangiles39248]

Pictures 16, 17 & 18 on Neil's link look remarkably similar.

Yes, certainly remember the Y connector from the pendant! Also the one with a pull switch on it so that the old man could turn off the light whilst Mum was doing the ironing! Saving the pennies!

[Author]

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